Control apparatus for a synchronous generator system and a hybrid-type electric vehicle using it

ABSTRACT

A control apparatus for a synchronous generator system has: a voltage instruction generator for generating voltage instructions (V u *, V v *, V w *) based on an output power reference (P*) of the synchronous generator, currents (I u , I v ) flowing through the synchronous generator and position information (θ 0 , ω r ) of magnetic poles of the synchronous generator; a zero crossing point detector for detecting a point that the voltage (V u ) of the synchronous generator passes through zero volt.; and a magnetic pole position calculator for calculating the information (θ 0 , ω r ) on the position of magnetic poles of the synchronous generator on the basis of the voltage instruction (V u *) and the power reference (P*) when the synchronous generator is under the generation mode, and on the basis of an output signal of the zero crossing point detector when the synchronous generator is under the stand-by mode.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/946,580, filed Oct. 7, 1997.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a control apparatus for a synchronous generator system for converting kinetic energy to electric power, and more particularly to a control apparatus which does not require to provide any sensor, such as an encoder, hole elements and so on, for detecting the position of rotating magnetic poles of a synchronous generator. Further, the present invention relates to a hybrid-type electric vehicle, to which the synchronous generator control apparatus as mentioned above is applied.

2. Description of Related Art

There is known a hybrid-type electric vehicle, in which an internal combustion engine as well as an electric motor and/or generator are used in combination as a driving power source, for the purpose of improving the fuel consumption and the exhaust gas purification. In such an electric vehicle, it is desired that an electric vehicle under the standstill state can be started only electrically.

By the way, as a motor or a generator for use in an electric vehicle of this kind, a synchronous type machine is usually utilized. As is well known, the positional relationship between a stator and a rotor thereof are necessary to be found, in order to operate the synchronous machine.

In a conventional control apparatus of this kind, there has been provided a position sensor for detecting the position of rotating magnetic poles of a synchronous machine. However, such a position sensor is very expensive, with the result that the whole cost of the control apparatus increases. Further, such a sensor also increases the size of the control apparatus as a whole.

To solve the problems as described above, the Japanese Patent Application laid-open No. 9-163507 (published Jun. 20, 1997) proposes a so called sensorless synchronous machine system, in which a control computer carries out a predetermined processing to presume the position of magnetic poles of a synchronous machine.

It is well known that the voltage induced across a winding of a certain phase has the phase difference of 90° from the magnetic flux produced by a magnetic pole. The prior art as disclosed in the JP-A-9-163507 utilizes the aforesaid known fact, and the control computer takes therein a signal concerning the induced voltage and executes a predetermined processing to presume the position of the magnetic poles.

However, the prior art as described above is on the assumption that the phase difference between the phase voltage and the magnetic flux is equal to 90°. This assumption is quite correct under the condition that a synchronous machine is not loaded. However, the phase difference does not become equal to from 90°, as a load current flows through the synchronous machine. Namely, the position of the magnetic poles can not presumed exactly under the loaded condition of the synchronous machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a control apparatus for a synchronous generator system, wherein A.C. electric power produced by a synchronous generator is converted by a converter into D.C. electric power, in which the position of magnetic poles of the synchronous generator can be sensed without using any expensive position sensor or the like even under the condition that the generator is loaded.

According to a feature of the present invention, voltage instructions (V_(u)*, V_(v)*, V_(w)*) for controlling the converter are created by using a reference P* of power to be produced by the synchronous generator, currents (I_(u), I_(v)) flowing through the synchronous generator and information (θ₀, ω_(r)) concerning the position of magnetic poles of the synchronous generator. Further, the point, at which the voltage passes through zero, is detected. The information (θ₀, ω_(r)) concerning the magnetic pole position is produced on the basis of the voltage instruction (V_(u)*, V_(v)*, V_(w)*) and the power reference P* when the synchronous generator is under the generation mode, and on the basis of an output of the zero crossing point detection when the synchronous generator is under the stand-by mode.

According to another feature of the present invention, when the synchronous generator is under the generation mode, the information (θ₀, ω_(r)) concerning the position of magnetic poles is calculated based on the power reference P* as well as the currents (I_(u), I_(v)) flowing through the synchronous generator, instead of the voltage instruction (V_(u)*, V_(v)*, V_(w)*).

As described above, according to the present invention, information concerning the position of magnetic poles of a synchronous generator, which is necessarily required for the operation thereof, can be calculated based on the information concerning the voltage or the current. Accordingly, a position sensor like an encoder becomes unnecessary, whereby a control apparatus for a synchronous generator becomes small in size and its manufacturing cost can be decreased. Further, the speed of processing, i.e., detection of the position of magnetic poles, can be much improved, compared with the conventional system.

The characteristic features as mentioned above are advantageous to an electric vehicle, because space for apparatuses is very limited and the high speed processing is required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams showing a control apparatus for a synchronous generator system according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is applied to a hybrid-type electric vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a vector diagram showing various kinds of vectors and a relationship thereamong under the steady state of a synchronous generator;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are drawings for explaining the operation of a voltage phase calculator used in the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIG. 4 is a drawing for explaining the principle of a method of calculating a zero crossing point based on the discrete information;

FIG. 5 shows waveforms of voltages of a three phase synchronous generator;

FIG. 6 schematically shows a circuit arrangement of a zero crossing point detector used in the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1A;

FIGS. 7A to 7D are explanatory drawings of the zero crossing point detector as shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a part of a stator of a synchronous generator;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are drawings for explaining the principle of removing the influence of the chattering phenomenon occurring in detecting a zero crossing point; and

FIG. 10 shows a control apparatus for a synchronous generator according to another embodiment of the present invention, which however shows only a part corresponding to that as shown in FIG. 1B.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following, description will be made of embodiments of the present invention, referring to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1A shows the whole arrangement of a control apparatus for a synchronous generator system according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is applied to a hybrid-type electric vehicle. FIG. 1B shows the detailed arrangement of converter controller 107 used in the control apparatus as shown in FIG. 1A.

Referring at first to FIG. 1A, reference numeral 101 denotes kinetic energy generating means. Although in this embodiment, an internal combustion engine is used as means 101, an external combustion engine such as a gas turbine and a Stirling engine, as well as kinetic energy storing means such as a fly wheel, can be also utilized. In the following, means 101 will be simply referred to as an engine.

Reference numeral 102 denotes a synchronous generator. The generator 102 is mechanically coupled with the engine 101 and converts kinetic energy produced thereby to generate A.C. electric power. In the electric vehicle of this type, every kind of generator can be used for the generator 102, for example, a synchronous generator, a switched reluctance generator, a brushless D.C. generator and so on.

Reference numeral 103 denotes a power converter, which is subjected to a well known vector control and converts the A.C. electric power produced by the synchronous generator 102 into D.C. electric power. Since a well known converter can be utilized as the converter 103, further description thereon is omitted.

The thus obtained D.C. electric power is stored in energy storing means 104. As means 104, there is utilized a known secondary battery is usually used, such as a lead battery, a nickel battery and so on.

Reference numeral 105 denotes an inverter, which is also subjected to a known vector control and inverts the D.C. electric power stored in the battery 104 to A.C. electric power. The thus obtained A.C. electric power is fed to driving motor 106. A controller for the inverter 105 is not shown in the drawing and description thereon is omitted either, for the simplification.

Reference numeral 107 denotes a converter controller, which carries out a predetermined processing operation in accordance with the vector control based on signals from current sensor 108 and a signal from zero crossing point detector 109. Thereby, the controller 107 produces voltage instructions V_(U)*, V_(V)*, V_(W)*. On the converter controller 107, further details will be described later, referring to FIG. 1B.

The zero crossing point detector 109 as mentioned above takes therein signals concerning the voltage of the phases U, V and detects the time point when the interphase voltage V_(U−V) becomes zero. More exactly, the detector 109 detects the point, at which the interphase voltage V_(U−V) passes through zero, when it changes from negative toward positive.

The voltage to be detected is not limited to the interphase voltage V_(U−V), but it can be an interphase voltage between two phases other than the U, V phases, or a phase voltage between a neutral point of the synchronous generator 102 and a certain phase is available for this purpose. Detailed arrangement of the zero crossing point detector 109 will be described later, referring to FIG. 6.

Reference numeral 115 denotes a switching element controller, which produces gate signals to switching elements of the converter 103 for operating the converter 103 on the PWM control basis, in accordance with the voltage instructions V_(U)*, V_(V)*, V_(W)* supplied by the converter controller 107.

Reference numeral 110 denotes an integrated controller, which carries out the total control for the electric vehicle. The integrated controller 110 includes engine controller 111 and power reference generator 112. As the engine controller 111, a known engine control apparatus can be utilized, which controls the rotational speed of the engine 101 and hence that of the generator 102. The power reference generator 112 produces the reference P* of the load or power to be burdened by the synchronous generator 102, which is led to the converter controller 107.

Further, the power reference P* can be given in terms of the torque reference τ*. It is to be noted that as is well known, there is the reciprocal relationship between the power P and the torque τ as shown by the following equation:

P=ω×τ

wherein ω denotes a mechanical angular speed of a generator.

The integrated controller 110 calculates the speed instruction and the power reference P* for the synchronous generator 102, based on a reference of the electric power to be produced by the synchronous generator 102. The electric power reference is given externally in the form of a depression amount of an acceleration pedal by a driver, for example. For the simplification of control, it is very usual that the power reference P* is kept constant and the speed instruction is varied in accordance with the electric power reference given by a driver.

Referring next to FIG. 1B, detailed description will be done of the converter controller 107.

The converter controller 107 is composed of voltage instruction generator 113 and magnetic pole position calculator 114. As the voltage instruction generator 113, a known device for the so called vector control can be utilized. So, in the figure, this is referred to as a vector controller.

The controller 113 takes therein signals I_(u), I_(v) from the current sensor 108 and the power reference P* from the reference generator 112, as well as a phase signal θ₀ of the magnetic pole position and an angular speed ω_(r) thereof, both being produced by the magnetic pole position calculator 114, which will be described later. Based on the various signals taken therein, the vector controller 113 produces the voltage instructions V_(U)*, V_(V)*, V_(W)* to the switching element controller 115.

The magnetic pole position calculator 114 comprises voltage phase calculator 116, first magnetic pole position phase calculator 117, induced voltage phase calculator 118 and second magnetic pole position phase calculator 119, in which the first two calculators are prepared for the generation mode and the last two calculators for the stand-by mode.

The generation mode as mentioned above is the mode that there exists the power reference P* from the power reference generator 112, and the synchronous generator 102 operates under the control based thereon. The stand-by mode is the mode that a signal of the phase θ₀ of the magnetic pole position of the synchronous generator 102 can not be obtained; the case where the synchronous generator 102 is apt to start and the case where the synchronous generator 102 falls into the loss of synchronism, for example.

The calculator 114 further comprises mode switch-over device 120 and sampling error correction device 121. The sampling error correction device 121 is required, when the magnetic pole position calculation is realized by the sampling control using a microcomputer. The sampling error correction device 121 serves to correct the difference occurring between the phase of an actual magnetic pole position and the phase of the voltage instruction, which corresponds to one sampling period T_(SP).

In the following, description will be made of the principle of the operation of calculating the position of magnetic poles of the synchronous generator 102.

It is well known that when various amounts in a synchronous machine under the steady state are indicated in the rotatory coordinate system popularly used in this field, there exists the relationship as shown in the vector diagram of FIG. 2 thereamong, wherein I indicates the U-phase current, V the U-phase terminal voltage and E the voltage induced across the U-phase winding of the synchronous machine. The phase current is defined as the direction flowing into the synchronous machine being positive. Further, it is known that the direction of the induced voltage E agrees with that of magnetic poles.

As shown in FIG. 2, assuming that the angle of phase difference between the induced voltage E and the phase voltage V is indicated by δ, the angle between the phase current I and the phase voltage V by φ, and the advance angle between the induced voltage E and the phase current I by β, and the q-axis impedance at a certain rotational speed by xq, the following equation is established:

δ=tan⁻¹{|I|·xq·cos φ/(|V|+|I|·xq·sin φ)}  (1)

φ=β+δ  (2)

If a power reference, a rotational speed reference and a phase voltage V are given, the relationship of various vectors is determined automatically as shown in FIG. 2 in accordance with the characteristics of the synchronous generator 102. According thereto, the advance angel β at this time or the phase difference angel δ also becomes known.

Accordingly, by subtracting the advance angle β from the phase angle θ_(Iu) of the U-phase current I or by adding the phase difference angel δ to the phase angle θ_(Vu) of the U-phase voltage V, the phase angle in the q-axis direction is obtained, which means the phase of the magnetic pole position.

As is well known, it is desirable that a synchronous generator is always operated with its maximum efficiency kept. Therefore, the phase voltage V is selected such that the synchronous generator 102 shows the maximum efficiency at every operating point. Based on the thus selected phase voltage V, the advance angle β and the phase difference angel δ are obtained.

With respect to the phase difference angel δ, for example, it is determined in response to the amount P of power to be produced by the generator 102 and the rotational speed ω of the engine 101. Namely, the phase difference angel δ can be obtained as a predetermined function of variables like P and ω. The same can be also applied to the advance angle β.

Now, the phase difference angel δ and the advance angle β can be obtained in accordance with predetermined functions based on the variables at that time. Desirably, however, there are provided tables by the simulation conducted in advance on the basis of the predetermined functions. During the actual operation, the phase difference angel δ and the advance angle β can be obtained by just looking up the tables provided in advance. This makes it possible to quickly know the position of magnetic poles.

As described above, if the phase of the current or the phase of the voltage can be found, the position of magnetic poles can easily be known. In the arrangement as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the phase of the magnetic pole position is calculated based on the phase of the voltage instruction.

The reason therefor is as follows. If the power reference P* is zero, the current also becomes zero, with the result that it becomes impossible to detect the phase of the current. However, information concerning the voltage can be obtained, whenever the synchronous generation 102 rotates. By using the voltage instruction, therefore, the magnetic pole position can be calculated even if the power reference P* is zero.

In FIG. 1B, the voltage phase calculator 116 for the generation mode produces the voltage phase θ_(Vu) and the angular speed ω_(r) thereof. The magnetic pole position phase calculator 117 produces the phase difference angle δ by looking up the table, based on the power reference P* and the angular speed ω_(r) of the voltage phase. The operation of the voltage phase calculator 116 will be explained, referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B.

The calculator 116 takes therein the U-phase voltage instruction V_(u)* for every constant sampling period and detects a rising zero crossing point in the waveform thereof. As shown in FIG. 3A, assuming that time interval between two rising zero crossing points t₁, t₂ next to each other is indicated by T_(c) and time from the last rising zero crossing point t₁ to the present time t₀ by T_(p), the phase angle θ_(Vu) of the U-phase voltage, the angular speed ω_(V) thereof, the angular speed ω_(r) of the phase of the magnetic pole position and the mechanical angular speed N are expressed by the following equations:

θ_(Vu)=2πT_(P)/T_(c)(rad)  (3)

ω_(r)=ω_(V)=2π/T_(c)(rad/sec)  (4)

N=60/p·T_(c)(min⁻¹)  (5)

wherein p denotes the number of pairs of the magnetic poles.

Further, various time intervals as mentioned above can be easily measured by a free running counter included in a microcomputer, for example.

In the foregoing, the angular speed ω_(V) of the voltage phase is defined as being equal to the angular speed ω_(r) of the phase of the magnetic pole position, as shown in the equation (4). It is to be noted that this equation is true only during the steady state of the synchronous generator 102 and not strictly exact for every state thereof. However, it does not matter in practical application, since the synchronous generator 102 is usually operated under such a condition that there does not occur a sudden change in the rotational speed, which is different from the case of a motor.

The voltage phase angle θ_(Vu) and the angular speed ω_(r) of the phase of the magnetic pole position are led to the magnetic pole position calculator 117, in which δ is at first obtained by looking up the table prepared in advance on the basis of P* and ω_(r) taken therein. Further, based on the thus obtained δ, the position θ₀ of the magnetic pole is calculated by the following equation:

θ_(Vu)+δ−π/2=θ₀  (6)

Further, the voltage phase angle θ_(Vu) is obtained based on the rising zero crossing point of the voltage instruction. This is for the purpose of the easiness in reduction to practice. Other than this, however, a differentiated value or an integrated one of the voltage instruction and so on can also be utilized.

Usually, the calculation of the zero crossing point is done by using a microcomputer. The voltage instruction is calculated by the microcomputer for every constant time interval of interruption. Accordingly, the voltage instruction has the nature of a discrete information. In the following, referring to FIG. 4, description will be done of the method how to calculate the rising zero crossing point precisely based on such a discrete information.

FIG. 4 shows a part of the waveform of the voltage instruction V_(u)*. In the figure, the zero crossing point t_(z) is approximated as follows;

t_(z)=(V_·t₀+V₀·t_)/(V_+V₀)  (7)

wherein t_ is the time point of sampling of the last time, V_ the value of the voltage instruction at t_, t₀ the time point of sampling of this time, and V₀ the value of the voltage instruction at t₀.

Conventionally, it has been only presumed that there exists a zero crossing point between t_ and t₀, from the fact that V_ is negative and V₀ is positive. And, either one of t_ and t₀ has been regarded as a zero crossing point. Accordingly, there could occur a maximum error equal to a whole period of time for sampling. With the method as shown in FIG. 4, the detection of a zero crossing point becomes much more precise, whereby the accuracy of the calculation of the magnetic pole position is much improved.

Next, the sampling error corrector 121 will be explained, which is also achieved by the microcomputer. Without the sampling error corrector 121, the magnetic pole position calculator 114 takes therein the voltage instruction at the sampling time point t₂ and calculates the phase of the magnetic pole position based thereon (cf. FIG. 3A). The thus calculated phase of the magnetic pole position is reflected on the processing in the vector controller 113 at the next sampling time point t₁ (cf. FIG. 3A).

Assuming that the electric angular speed, i.e., the angular speed of the phase of the magnetic pole position, is represented by ω_(r) and the sampling period of time by T_(sp), the amount of the error in phase caused by the sampling operation becomes T_(sp)×ω_(r). Therefore, the correction can be attained by adding the product of the sampling period of time and the angular speed of the phase of the magnetic pole position to the phase of the magnetic pole position.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show the utilization of the U-phase voltage instruction only, in order to obtain the angle θ_(Vu) of the voltage phase. Further, to obtain the voltage phase angle θ_(Vu), the voltage instructions of the phases V and W can also be utilized. Further, if the voltage instructions of all the three phases are utilized, a zero crossing point can be checked every 120°, whereby the detection accuracy can be increased.

In FIG. 5, there is shown the waveforms of output voltage of a three phase synchronous generator during the steady state. As apparent from the figure, if a rising zero crossing point in the U-phase voltage is defined as a reference point (0°) of the voltage phase angle, there occur rising zero crossing points or falling zero crossing points every 60° through all the three phase voltage U, V and W.

If, therefore, the voltages of all the three phases are taken in the voltage phase calculator 116 for the generation mode, the angle θ_(Vu) of the voltage phase can be checked every 60°. By way of example, even if the speed changes at the position of 30° and hence there occurs the error between the true angle θ_(Vu)* of the voltage phase and that θ_(Vu)′ actually obtained by the calculation, the calculated θ_(Vu)′ can be corrected at the position of 60°. Further, as shown in the figure, since the rising zero crossing point in the voltage of the respective phases appears every 120° in succession, the angular speed ov can be renewed by a correct value every 120°.

As described above, the position, and hence the speed also, can be calculated more accurately by utilizing the information of all the three phase voltage of the three phase synchronous generator. In this case, however, it will be easily understood that the information of any two out of the three phase voltage are sufficient to be taken, because there exists the known relationship of V_(u)+V_(v)+V_(w)=C (C: constant) in the three phase voltages.

In the following, description will be made of the operation in the stand-by mode.

In the case where the position of the magnetic poles is to be calculated by utilizing the phase of current, the calculation becomes impossible, when the converter 103 does not operate and hence there is no current flowing in the synchronous generator 102. The stand-by mode is the mode that even under the situation as mentioned above, the position of magnetic poles can be calculated by the zero crossing point detector 109.

FIG. 6 shows the circuit arrangement of the zero crossing point detector 109. In the figure, reference numeral 131 denotes a primary low pass filter, reference numeral 132 a photo-coupler and reference numeral 133 a secondary low pass filter. The zero crossing point detector 109 detects the voltage between the phases U and V to produce a signal to the induced voltage calculator 118 for the stand-by mode.

The first low pass filter 131 not only removes harmonic components caused by the PWM control, but also serves to keep the voltage applied to the photo-coupler 132 within a predetermined constant level, as described next.

By way of example, a generator for an electric vehicle is required to produce a wide range of electric power from 0 to several ten kilowatts, and the number of rotation of such a generator also varies in the wide range from 0 to about ten thousand rpm. Under those conditions, the voltage generated by such generator changes between 0 and more than 300 volts.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide any device, prior to the photo-coupler 132, that shows the high gain, during the low rotational speed of the generator 102 and hence the low induced voltage, and the low gain during the high rotational speed of the generator 102 and hence the high induced voltage.

The primary low pass filter 131 serves as such a device. To this end, its characteristics are selected as follows: i.e., the cut-off frequency thereof is lower than the frequency corresponding to the maximum electrical angular speed of the synchronous generator 102. However, as a matter of course, it is necessary to be higher than the frequency corresponding to the minimum electrical angular speed, at which the synchronous generator 102 is required to operate.

By the filter 131 having such characteristic, the photo-coupler 132 can be applied by the voltage of almost the constant level over the whole range of utilization.

With the circuit arrangement of the primary low pass filter 131 and the photo-coupler 132 as described above, the photo-coupler 132 produces such an output signal that is low, when the voltage between the phases U, V is positive, and high, when it is negative. Accordingly, if the delay in the primary low pass filter 131 is ignored, the falling edge of the output signal of the photo-coupler 132 can be regarded as corresponding to the zero crossing point.

Further, the secondary low pass filter 133 serves to remove noise from the output signal of the photo-coupler 132. The secondary low pass filter 133 has the cut-off frequency, which is higher than that of the primary low pass filter 131.

In the following, description will be made of a manner of detecting the phase of the position of magnetic poles in the stand-by mode, referring to FIGS. 7A to 7D, which are the explanatory drawings of the operation of the zero crossing point detector 109.

Because of the primary low pass filter 131, there occurs the phase delay in the detected U−V voltage. To generate light, the photo-coupler 132 needs to be supplied with more than a predetermined level of current, which means the sensitivity of a photo-coupler. This sensitivity of a photo-coupler also causes the delay. There occurs further phase delay caused by the secondary low pass filter 133. The total amount of delay caused by all the factors as mentioned above is represented by θ_(lag) in the following.

In FIG. 7A, the phase 0° of the magnetic pole position (the reference position of the magnetic pole position) is shown as a position of 30° delayed from the rising zero crossing point of the U−V voltage. In the relationship as shown, assuming that the phase of the output of the zero crossing point detector 109 is represented by θ_(z) and the phase of the magnetic pole position by θ₀, the following equation is established:

θ₀=θ_(z)+θ_(lag)−π/6(rad)  (8)

The induced voltage phase calculator 118 for the stand-by mode (FIG. 1B) receives the output signal of the zero crossing point detector 109 and calculates the phase θ_(z) thereof. The manner of obtaining the phase θ_(z) is almost the same as in the voltage phase calculator 116 for the generation mode (FIG. 1B). Therefore, the method as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B can be utilized. The difference of the calculator 118 for the stand-by mode from the calculator 116 for the generation mode is in that not the rising zero crossing point, but the leading edge of the rectangular waveform should be detected and utilized.

The phase information θ_(Vu) and the speed information ω_(r) produced by the induced voltage phase calculator 118 for the stand-by mode are led to the magnetic pole position phase calculator 119 for the stand-by mode, in which the phase of the magnetic pole position is calculated in accordance with the equation (8) as mentioned above. Since θ_(lag) depends only on the rotational speed of the synchronous generator 102, the phase of the magnetic pole position can be easily obtained by retrieving the table which stores θ_(lag) obtained in advance with respect to the rotational speed.

In this manner, the magnetic pole position is calculated based on the information from the zero crossing point detector 109, when the generator 102 initiates rotation, and it is calculated based on the information of current, when the synchronous generator 102 is continuing the generator operation. The calculation for such operation modes is changed by the mode switch-over device 120.

As described above, the phase of the magnetic pole position can be learnt, if the phase of voltage is known. Theoretically, therefore, it is possible to calculate the phase of the magnetic pole position by using the induced voltage calculator 118 for the stand-by mode and the magnetic pole position phase calculator 119 for the stand-by mode. However, this is not practical because of the following reasons.

Firstly, since the output of the zero crossing point detector 109 changes stepwise, the manner as shown in FIG. 4 can not be used in order to detect a zero crossing point. Secondly, it is difficult to obtain the exact amount of delay θ_(lag), because the sensitivity widely varies for every photo-coupler. Thirdly, in order to take an analog voltage information in a microcomputer, there are required parts such as a transformer, an isolation amplifier and so on, which are large in size.

From the reasons as mentioned above, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, it is practical that the zero crossing point detector 109 are utilized at the time of start, during which the rotational speed is relatively low and the error caused by the delay is also small, and the voltage instruction is utilized at the time of generation, with which the phase of the magnetic pole position can be exactly calculated.

For the simplification, the foregoing explanation is on the assumption that the output of the current sensor 108 is of an ideal sinusoidal waveform. Actually, however, the current signal is a sinusoidal signal with many harmonic components superimposed. The voltage instruction also has a waveform with harmonic components, since it is formed based on the current signal with such harmonic components.

If the detection of a zero crossing point is carried out by using the voltage instruction with such harmonic components, the chattering phenomenon occurs in the detection operation, with the result that it becomes impossible to detect the voltage period exactly.

The superimpose of such harmonic components is caused by the form of slots of a synchronous generator and electric noise. Since the frequency of electric noise is sufficiently high, compared with the electric angular frequency of the synchronous generator, such noise can be removed by an appropriate low pass filter without any decrease of the accuracy. On the other hand, the frequency of harmonic components caused by the form of the slots is as low as from several to several ten times of the frequency of the original signal at highest. If such noise is intended to be removed by a low pass filter, the influence by the delay of the phase becomes so large as to be not ignored.

Next, there will be described the method of removing the influence of chattering phenomenon caused by the harmonic components.

FIG. 8 shows a part of a sectional view of a stator of a synchronous machine. Since in a synchronous machine, electromagnetic force occurs between winding coils and magnetic poles of a rotor, current ripple is caused every mechanical angle α of slots of the stator. If the mechanical angle α is converted into an electric angle γ of the slot arrangement, γ=pα (p: number of pole pairs).

In this manner, since the current ripple occurs every electric angle γ of the slot arrangement, the influence of the chattering phenomenon can be removed by using a mask of the length ζ which is longer than the electric angle γ of the slot arrangement after the detection of the zero crossing point.

FIG. 9A is a drawing for explaining the removal of the influence of chattering occurring around the phase 0° of the voltage, a thick broken line shows a part of a waveform of a fundamental wave of the voltage, and a thick solid line that of an actual waveform thereof.

As shown in the figure, a mask of the length ζ is established after the first occurrence t₁ of the zero crossing point. If ζ is set to be longer than the electric angle γ of the slot arrangement, there occurs a zero crossing signal no more, even at the second occurrence t₂ of the zero crossing point.

Further, ζ of the mask is expressed in terms of the electric angle for simplification, however, it is equivalent that it is expressed in terms of time. In this manner, the influence of the chattering phenomenon can be removed by providing the zero crossing mask in the neighborhood of the phase 0° of the voltage.

Furthermore, according to this method, there occurs the difference between the detected point t₁ of the zero crossing and the actual point t₀ thereof, as shown in the figure. However, this difference can be easily corrected in the magnetic pole position phase calculator 117 for the generation mode. A table for the correction can be prepared in advance by the actual measurement during the parameter matching of the synchronous generator 102.

FIG. 9B is a drawing for explaining the removal of the influence of the chattering phenomenon occurring around 180°. In this case, all the points, at which the actual waveform (thick solid line) crosses zero, are masked. The magnitude of the ripple current is different, depending on a generator used, and the number of times of occurrence of chattering changes accordingly, with the result that the length of a mask must differ according to the system, to which the present invention is applied. However, the mask is necessary to be provided at least during the length corresponding to ±γ in terms of electric angle with the current phase angle 180° centered.

In the following, description will be made on another embodiment of the present invention.

The another embodiment has the same arrangement as shown in FIG. 1A, but only the converter controller 107 is different from that of the first embodiment. The converter controller 107 in the another embodiment is shown in FIG. 10.

In FIG. 10, the output signals I_(u), I_(v) from the current sensor 108 are led not only to the vector controller 113, but also to current phase calculator 116′ for the generation mode, in which the phase θ_(Iu) of the current and the angular speed ω_(r) are obtained. To obtain those, the current phase calculator 116′ carries out the same processing as that of the voltage phase calculator 116 in FIG. 1B.

Receiving the current phase θ_(Iu) and the angular speed ω_(r). magnetic pole position phase calculator 117′ for the generation mode obtains the advance angle β by looking up a table prepared in advance on the basis of P* and ω_(r). This is done in the same manner as the calculator 117 in the first embodiment.

Based on the thus obtained β, the position θ₀ of the magnetic pole is calculated by the following equation:

θ_(Iu)−β−π/2=θ₀  (9)

The remaining parts are the same as the first embodiment already described, referring to FIG. 1B. For simplification, therefore, further description will be omitted.

The zero crossing point detection described with reference to FIG. 4, the improvement of the accuracy of phase detection described with reference to FIG. 5, and the removal of the influence of chattering phenomenon described with reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B are all applicable to the another embodiment as shown in FIG. 10.

As described above, the method that the position of magnetic poles is calculated based on information concerning the current has the advantage that the position of magnetic poles can be calculated, irrespective of the manner how to provide the voltage instruction.

By way of example, even in such a rough control apparatus that the phase of the voltage instruction fluctuates in several ten degrees for every sampling period, this method can perform the control without any problem, because the magnetic pole position is found out from the current signal on the real time basis. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A control method for a synchronous generator system, in which A.C. electric power produced by a synchronous generator is converted by a converter into D.C. electric power, comprising the steps of: generating voltage instructions (V_(u)*, V_(v)*, V_(w)*) based on a reference (P*) for a power to be produced by the synchronous generator, currents (I_(u), I_(v)) flowing through the synchronous generator and information (θ₀, ω_(r)) concerning a position of magnetic poles of the synchronous generator through a voltage instruction generator; the converter being operated in accordance with the thus generated voltage instructions (V_(u)*, V_(v)*, V_(w)*); detecting a zero crossing point, at which the voltage (V_(u), V_(v), V_(w)) of the synchronous generator passes through a zero level of voltage through a zero crossing point detector; and calculating the information (θ₀, ω_(r)) concerning the position of magnetic poles of the synchronous generator through a magnetic pole position calculator on the basis of at least one of the voltage instructions (V_(u)*, V_(v)*, V_(w)*) and the power reference (P*) when the synchronous generator is under the generation mode, and on the basis of an output signal of an output signal of the zero crossing point detector when the synchronous generator is under the stand-by mode.
 2. A control method for a synchronous generator system according to claim 1, in which said magnetic pole position calculating step comprises the steps of: calculating a phase (θ_(Vu)) of a zero crossing point of the voltage (V_(u), V_(v), V_(w)) and the angular speed (ω_(r)) thereof based on the voltage instructions (V_(u)*, V_(v)*, V_(w)*) and the power reference (P*) through a first voltage phase calculator; and calculating a phase (θ_(Vu)) of a zero crossing point of the voltage (V_(u), V_(v), V_(w)) and the angular speed (ω_(r)) thereof based on the output signal of the zero crossing point detector through a second voltage phase calculator, wherein the phase (θ₀) of the magnetic pole position is calculated on the basis of the phase (θ_(Vu)) of the zero crossing point and the angular speed (ω_(r)) thereof, and the thus obtained two sets of the phase (θ_(Vu)) of the zero crossing points and the angular speed (ω_(r)) are switched over in accordance with the operation mode of the synchronous generator.
 3. A control method for a synchronous generator system according to claim 2, in which the phase (θ_(Vu)) of the zero crossing point and the angular speed (ω_(r)) thereof, which are obtained by said first voltage phase calculator, are led to a first magnetic pole position phase calculator, in which the phase (θ₀) of the magnetic pole position is calculated in accordance with the following equation: θ_(Vu)+δ−π/2=θ₀ wherein δ denotes an angle of the phase difference between an induced voltage (E) and a phase voltage (V_(u)), which is obtained in advance and stored in a table, which is looked up by the power reference (P*) and the angular speed (ω_(r)).
 4. A control method for a synchronous generator system according to claim 2, in which the phase (θ_(Vu)) of the zero crossing point and the angular speed (ω_(r)) thereof, which are obtained by the second voltage phase calculator, are led to a second magnetic pole position phase calculator, in which the phase (θ₀) of the magnetic pole position is calculated in accordance with the following equation: θ_(z)+θ_(lag)−π/6=θ₀ wherein θ_(z) is a phase angle of the output of the zero crossing point detector and θ_(lag) is a phase delay occurring in the zero crossing point detector.
 5. A control method for a synchronous generator system according to claim 1, in which the zero crossing point of the voltage is a point where the voltage crosses a zero level from negative toward positive.
 6. A control method for a synchronous generator system according to claim 5, in which the zero crossing point t_(z) is obtained in accordance with the following equation: t_(z)=(V_·t₀+V₀·t_)/(V_+V₀) wherein V_ is a voltage at the last time t_ of the sampling point and V₀ is a voltage at the present time t₀ of the sampling point.
 7. A control method for a synchronous generator system according to claim 1, in which said zero crossing point detecting step comprises the steps of: applying the voltage of the synchronous generator to a first low pass filter; applying an output of the first low pass filter to a photocoupler; and applying an output of the photocoupler to a second low pass filter, wherein a cut-off frequency of said first low pass filter is selected at a frequency that is lower than the maximum electric angle frequency of the synchronous generator.
 8. A control method for a synchronous generator system according to claim 1, further comprising the step of first occurrence of a zero crossing point, masking the detection output after the zero crossing point detector for a predetermined time every time of occurrence of the zero crossing point; the predetermined time being longer than the period of time of ripple components included in the voltage of the synchronous generator.
 9. A control method for a synchronous generator system, in which A.C. electric power produced by a synchronous generator is converted by a converter into D.C. electric power comprising the steps of: generating voltage instructions (V_(u)*, V_(v)*, V_(w)*) based on a reference (P*) for a power to be produced by the synchronous generator, currents (I_(u), I_(v)) flowing through the synchronous generator and information (θ₀, ω_(r)) concerning a position of magnetic poles of the synchronous generator through a voltage instruction generator; the converter being operated in accordance with the thus generated voltage instructions (V_(u)*, V_(v)*, V_(w)*); detecting a zero crossing point, at which the voltage (V_(u), V_(v), V_(w)) of the synchronous generator passes through a zero level of voltage through a zero crossing point detector; and calculating the information (θ₀, ω_(r)) concerning the position of magnetic poles of the synchronous generator through a magnetic pole position calculator on the basis of the currents (I_(u), I_(v)) and the power reference (P*) when the synchronous generator is under the generation mode, and on the basis of an output signal of the zero crossing point detector when the synchronous generator is under the stand-by mode.
 10. A control method for a synchronous generator system according to claim 9, in which said magnetic pole position calculating step comprises the steps of: calculating a phase (θ_(Iu)) of a zero crossing point of the current (I_(u), I_(v), I_(w)) and the angular speed (ω_(r)) thereof based on the currents (I_(u), I_(v)) flowing through the synchronous generator and the power reference (P*) through a first current phase calculator; calculating the phase (θ₀) of the magnetic pole position based on the calculated phase (θ_(Iu)) of the zero crossing point and the angular speed (ω_(r)) thereof through a first magnetic pole position phase calculator; calculating a phase (θ_(Vu)) of a zero crossing point of the induced voltage and the angular speed (ω_(r)) thereof based on the output signal of the zero crossing point detector through a second voltage phase calculator; and calculating the phase (θ₀) of the magnetic pole position based on the calculated phase (θ_(Vu)) of the zero crossing point and the angular speed (ω_(r)) thereof through a second magnetic pole position phase calculator, wherein the two sets of the calculated phase (θ₀) of the magnetic pole position and the angular speed (ω_(r)) are switched over in accordance with the operational mode of the synchronous generator.
 11. A control method for a synchronous generator system according to claim 10, in which the phase (θ_(Iu)) of the zero crossing point and the angular speed (ω_(r)) thereof, which are obtained by the first current phase calculator, are led to a first magnetic pole position phase calculator, in which the phase (θ₀) of the magnetic pole position is calculated in accordance with the following equation: θ_(Iu)−β−π/2=θ₀ wherein β denotes an angle of the phase difference between an induced voltage (E) and a phase current (I_(u)), which is obtained in advance and stored in a table, which is looked up by the power reference (P*) and the angular speed (ω_(r)).
 12. A control method for a synchronous generator system according to claim 10, in which the phase (θ_(Vu)) of the zero crossing point and the angular speed (ω_(r)) thereof, which are obtained by the second voltage phase calculator, are led to a second magnetic pole position phase calculator, in which the phase (θ₀) of the magnetic pole position is calculated in accordance with the following equation: θ_(z)+θ_(lag)−π/6=θ₀ wherein θ_(z) is a phase angle of the output of the zero crossing point detector and θ_(lag) is a phase delay occurring in the zero crossing point detector.
 13. A control method for a synchronous generator system according to claim 9, in which the zero crossing point of the voltage is a point where the voltage crosses a zero level from negative toward positive.
 14. A control method for a synchronous generator system according to claim 13, in which the zero crossing point t_(z) is obtained in accordance with the following equation: t_(z)=(V_·t₀+V₀·t_)/(V_+V₀) wherein V_ is a voltage at the last time t_ of the sampling point and V₀ is a voltage at the present time t₀ of the sampling point.
 15. A control method for a synchronous generator system according to claim 9, in which said zero crossing point detecting step comprises the steps of: applying the voltage of the synchronous generator to a first low pass filter; applying an output of the first low pass filter to a photocoupler; and applying an output of the photocoupler to a second low pass filter, wherein a cut-off frequency of said first low pass filter is selected at a frequency that is lower than the maximum electric angle frequency of the synchronous generator.
 16. A control method for a synchronous generator system according to claim 9, further comprising the step of first occurrence of a zero crossing point, masking the detection output after the zero crossing point detector for a predetermined time every time of occurrence of the zero crossing point; the predetermined time being longer than the period of time of ripple components included in the voltage of the synchronous generator. 